Rose's Thorns: The Wolf's Prophecy

19

Rose's POV

Not even Rose. Surprisingly, she was excited about the open doors. It was a thrill to be around unknown faces. There would be children her age, there would be a chance to learn about the other kingdoms, and there would be a chance to find out if anybody were affiliated with Rovax. It was a perfect scheme, and if she was correct, which she did not doubt, it was her father's way of determining the same thing. But when she mentioned this to Orion, he did not seem pleased at all, as she had hoped. He was in fact more anxious than she had ever seen him. She thought he might like the idea a bit because that meant he would not need to sneak around during the daytime, but it did not cheer him up much. The idea of open doors seemed to make him anxious, and she did not quite understand why. When she had told him about the seven days of dancing, he seemed a bit more interested and quickly got back to himself. "You? In a dress? Dancing?" He laughed and dodged her outstretched hand.

"Yes, dancing." She said stiffly. "I can dance." A lie. "And besides, I won't be forced to dance, it's all a choice"

For the next couple of weeks, the castle servants were busier than ever, trying to prepare for the commoners to come. They cleaned and dusted. They prepared a calendar for the month ahead. They child- safetied every suit of armor and every sharp corner. The ceilings were dusted, and the restricted sections were roped off. Everything was perfect. Everything was prepared.

Finally, on the 15th day of June, it happened. Rose had heard the familiar babble of a large crowd, and her eyes lit up with excitement. She had never gotten dressed so fast. She had never brushed her long hair so fervently, and she had never hugged Josephine on the way down to the first floor. Things were different.

"Go out with the crowd, Orion, and wait for the doors to open." She said.

"How long will it be? It's not very cool out here." He said, tugging at his collar.

"Any moment now!"

So, the Royal Family put on their nicest smiles and their most casual outfits, and we are now standing at the main entrance. Rose could practically taste the happiness and excitement coming from Syline, who breathlessly chattered "meet new friends, see old friends" and with an ear-piercing squeal, "Tea parties!"

Rose could not help the laugh that bubbled up, and was startled by the foreign sound. It seemed so long ago, she had laughed along with her family. It felt crazy. She looked along at the rest of her family. The head of the house, with his golden gray hair, and his phoenix at his shoulder. His broad smile lit up the room and his eyes crinkled at the edge. A marvelous fake smile. Rose could tell from a mile away, he was nervous. Josephine looked breathtaking, her brown hair in a tight braid at her back. She looked calm and composed, but when she met Rose's eyes, she offered a tight smile. Willow was being held by Aris; she was asleep, oblivious to the nerves in the air.

One of Aris's closest friends, and strongest guard, David, strode up. "Guards are in place, sire, and our most attentive sentries are posted along the yard. Shall we proceed?"

"We shall."

Then the Meadow doors were opened, and the largest crowd of people Rose had ever seen stood before her. She had gone down to the Meadow's town before and had met many people along the way, but she had never seen so many people, in one place. They screamed with delight and whistled loudly as the king himself became visible. Children called, and housewives waved their scarves around in the air. The men cheered, and tiny bursts of vines and ferns spewed from the group. It was chaotic, but only in the best way. The people looked so happy and healthy. Not a single down-turned face. No one looked mistreated, and no one looked ill. Though Rose knew not to judge anyone's health by just their physical appearance, it still made her happy to see the glowing faces. A loud voice filled the space, and all the overjoyed chatter died down.

"If everybody would gather into two equal lines, you will be greeted by our beloved king. Once you have received your greetings, please follow the arrows to the public dining hall." And just like that, a parting effect took place, and there were two lines. Rose concluded that Orion was somewhere in the sea of unfamiliar faces, but she could not be sure. In the meantime, she was greeting everyone she could see. So many people. It was quite unnerving, and before she knew it, she fell into a monotone-like rhythm. Smile, dip, give your hand, turn your cheek. She began to feel overwhelmed with all the faces that looked at her. In awe, fear, pity, nervousness. Some people even cried as she offered her hand, and they looked at her as a deity. She smiled and nodded, but it drove her crazy. They revered the royals as if they were the life-giver. Or angels sent from above. But they were as human as the rest of them. The only difference between them being in status and skill level. But they had blood. They required air.

Some seemed to fall over with giddiness when they approached her. Was it her dress? Something in her hair? What the hell was wrong? But before she could check, there was someone else taking her hand, or kissing her cheek. There was no pause, no room to breathe. She felt panicky. It was so sudden. One second she adored the attention and the next she wanted to run far away. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and her hands felt like ice, but she kept her smile. She dipped her head, "how do you do?" And on to the next. She could just make out the end of the line. Oh, so close, but so far. She looked for the familiar dark hair of her friend and felt a jolt as she saw his lopsided grin in the very back of the line. The one seemed to move so slow, but when Orion met Syline, she could see the mirth in his eyes. When he finally got to her, he looked almost dumbfounded. "Never thought of you as the pretty dress type" She rolled her eyes but offered her hand. "No, really, I thought you'd try to sneak out in a pants suit." She wanted to smack him, but remembered that they were not even supposed to know each other. No slapping strangers. He chuckled lightly and moved on to Josephine, then the king. Thankfully, keeping his mouth closed.

After the lines were complete, the family followed the steady stream of people into the public dining hall, subtly enjoying the quiet babble that floated among the commoners.